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This study explores the intricate relationships between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), digital orientation (DO), strategic agility (SA), and competitive advantage (CA) in Saudi firms. We investigate whether strategic agility serves as the missing link in these relationships. We examine direct and indirect effects among these constructs using structural equation modeling on data collected from 307 Saudi firms. The results confirm the direct positive links between EO and SA with CA. However, the findings also reveal a surprising result—there is no direct link between DO and CA. At the same time, both DO and EO exerted significant positive influences on SA. This study emphasizes the mediating role of SA. We find that SA partially mediates the relationship between EO and CA, underlining the importance of EO while pointing out the additional value given to this relationship by SA. Additionally, SA fully mediates the relationship between DO and CA, suggesting that firms must develop SA to translate their digital capabilities into CA. These results contribute to the strategic management literature by explaining the interplay between strategic orientations, agility, and competitive advantage in the Saudi context. They also provide practical implications for managers seeking to enhance the competitiveness of their firms during this digital age by showing that investing in SA in conjunction with entrepreneurial and digital resources is of paramount importance.

Research was undertaken to establish an inventory of ticks on dogs in the north east of Algeria. In the first aspect of study, a survey aims to identify of Ixodidae infesting the dogs in bioclimatic different areas and to determine the risk factors. This work took place between 2006 and 2012. The results of the collections show that all the dogs, which were the subject of this survey, are infested by ticks during the period between March and August in different areas of the northeastern of Algeria. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the predominant tick species. It has been observed with a frequency of 88 % in the area of El-Tarf, 100 % in Souk-Ahras, 95 % in the Tébessa region and 72 % in Guelma, (average of 89 %). Climatic conditions seem to play the essential role for this distribution of ticks. The other tick species collected are: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Haemaphysalis punctata and Hyalomma anatolicum. The latter were present with very low a proportion, which gives them the appearance of accidental parasitism in dogs. Rhipicephalus sanguineus has significant infestation intensity in spring and summer, peaking in August in the semi-arid region (Souk-Ahras). In humid regions (El-Tarf), the peak of infestation recorded by this arthropod is in April. The second aspect of study of the seasonal dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus shows the seasonal nature (Spring-Summer) of the brown tick of dog.

This study explores the intricate relationships between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), digital orientation (DO), strategic agility (SA), and competitive advantage (CA) in Saudi firms. We investigate whether strategic agility serves as the missing link in these relationships. We examine direct and indirect effects among these constructs using structural equation modeling on data collected from 307 Saudi firms. The results confirm the direct positive links between EO and SA with CA. However, the findings also reveal a surprising result—there is no direct link between DO and CA. At the same time, both DO and EO exerted significant positive influences on SA. This study emphasizes the mediating role of SA. We find that SA partially mediates the relationship between EO and CA, underlining the importance of EO while pointing out the additional value given to this relationship by SA. Additionally, SA fully mediates the relationship between DO and CA, suggesting that firms must develop SA to translate their digital capabilities into CA. These results contribute to the strategic management literature by explaining the interplay between strategic orientations, agility, and competitive advantage in the Saudi context. They also provide practical implications for managers seeking to enhance the competitiveness of their firms during this digital age by showing that investing in SA in conjunction with entrepreneurial and digital resources is of paramount importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explores the critical role played by organizational ambidexterity capabilities in the link between big data analytics, strategic innovation capabilities, and innovation performance. We developed a conceptual framework based on resource-based and dynamic capability views to examine the direct and indirect relationships among main variables. We used a quantitative approach to collect data from 172 Saudi IT and Telecom firms. We then employed structural equation modeling through Smart-PLS to test the study hypotheses. Our findings revealed that big data analytics and strategic innovation capabilities have a significant impact on organizational ambidexterity and then on innovation performance. Ambidexterity capability mediates between big data analytics capabilities and innovation performance and between strategic innovation capabilities and innovation performance. Our study contributes to the literature on big data and innovation. It offers valuable insights into the potential impacts of big data analytics, strategic innovation, and ambidexterity capabilities on innovation performance. It demonstrates how significantly boosting a firm's capabilities for improved firms' innovation performance can potentially enhance performance outcomes (e.g., competitiveness and sustainability). These findings provide managers with meaningful implications regarding the innovation performance that can be achieved by leveraging these important resources and capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Interstitial chromosome 11 long arm deletions (11q13-q23) represent a rare cytogenetic abnormality characterized by non-specific clinical features including intellectual disability and several malformations without a clear genotype-phenotype correlation. We describe the first case of interstitial 11q deletion identified in a boy with Sprengel’s deformity and provide a review of the literature. Case presentation We report a 9-year-old boy with congenital scapular deformity, iris and chorioretinal coloboma, normal intelligence, and a history of mild motor development delay. The karyotype showed a de novo large 11q deletion. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed that the deletion is interstitial, and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed a loss of 25.8 Mb encompassing the 11q14.1-q22.3 region. Conclusions The present case and the literature review of 61 previously published cases highlight the clinical heterogeneity and the lack of genotype-phenotype correlation in interstitial 11q deletions. Sprengel’s deformity found in our patient might be a new finding in 11q deletions or, more probably, a fortuitous association.

This paper presents the practical implementation of a Generalized Model Predictive Control (GPC) algorithm using low-cost microcontrollers. The computational efficiency of the predictive controller is achieved through an explicit analytical solution calculated offline. The proposed approach is implemented, reviewed, and compared with academic benchmarks and complex dynamic systems. Experimental results are provided using both Black-Box and White-Box models based on a boost converter, with a comparison between the two models. The algorithm demonstrates good control performance with low computational time, making it suitable for real-time applications in systems with fast dynamics.

Introduction: The evaluation of programs in faculties of medicine enables them to adequately reach their mission objectives, and social responsibilities and to correct their potential lacune. Fewpublications have described the process of internal evaluation of a program performed by the organizational members. The authors aimed to describe a practical method called the four-axis method to assess curriculum using a practical example.Methods: The authors performed a descriptive study, highlighting the application of a particular method of evaluation of a program called the four-axis method. It consisted of the assessment of the pedagogical alignment [1], teaching techniques and evaluation tests [2], students’ viewpoints and needs [3], and the teachers’ opinions and needs [4]. To contextualize this method, the authors described a practical experience of the assessment of a multidisciplinary theme (theme 16), which is taught during the second year of medical education. Was performed the evaluation from January 2020 to January 2021. The population studied consisted of the tutors implicated in the teaching of the theme and the students in the second year of medical education who accepted to answer the satisfaction questionnaires. The students and tutors who did not fill out the questionnaires were excluded. No statistical tests were needed because of the descriptive nature of the study. Results: The most relevant results highlighted that 48.4% of the teachers did not systematically use bioclinical cases involving interactions between students; also, 42.4% of the students believedthat the teaching sessions didn’t introduce practical examples giving rise to interactions between them. Therefore, the 4-axisbased analysis indicated that weaknesses were mostly attributedto the lack of homogeneity in the teaching methods and techniques which showed the teachers’ difficulties in integrating clinical data into their teaching so that they can help the students to assimilate the fundamental data.Conclusion: The authors’ used a particular approach since it focused both on an objective evaluation of the teaching methods and the evaluation tests and the students’ and teachers’ viewpoints and needs. The major limitation of this approach was the fact that itcould not integrate the educational environment that could impact the students’ performances.

Among azobenzene derivatives, azothiophenes represent a relatively recent family of compounds that exhibit similar characteristics as dyes and photoreactive systems. Their technological applications are extensive thanks to the additional design flexibility conferred by the heteroaromatic ring. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of the structural and electronic properties of novel dyes derived from 3-thiophenamine, utilizing a multilevel approach. We thoroughly examined the potential energy surfaces of the E and Z isomers for three molecules, each bearing different substituents on the phenyl ring at the para position relative to the diazo group. This exploration was conducted through quantum chemistry calculations at various levels of theory, employing a continuum solvent model. Subsequently, we incorporated an explicit solvent (a dimethyl sulfoxide–water mixture) to simulate the most stable isomers using classical molecular dynamics, delivering a clear picture of the local solvation structure and intermolecular interactions. Finally, a hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach was employed to accurately describe the evolution of the solutes’ properties within their environment, accounting for finite temperature effects.